The nice thing about the Enerpac rams is their cylinder height that's around 4" high so it fits into a rather small cleft. You get about a 3' lift on the 30 and 50, and with the shimming, your range of push is large. Hectic, no, it's very slow. With each pump of the handle, when the pump has gone to the second stage, the ram moves 1mm-2mm under a heavy load, so to get to full extension the exercise is very aerobic.

I have been busy with projects at 9500ft. in CO. and new prospects, so here's some stuff from Turtle Clan Ridge. Mostly Quartz. Quartz Collecting on the Little Falls Dolostone. Quartz, the most abundant mineral in the crust of the earth, depending on how you count it.

Occasionally, at the ridge, we find pockets that have varying amounts of anthraxolite, a solid carbon substance, I guess it would be a hydrocarbon, that infills the cavity and sometimes engulfs the silica and causes odd crystal manifestations. Small amounts are fairly common but stories of early settlers heating their pioneer hovels with the material are passed around. Much more than this was needed, depending on hovel size. Pictured here are some of the contents of a 25cm. diameter pocket. I had crushed my camera earlier in the day and my flip phone takes the most inferior images, so no photo record exists. Be that as it is, the crystal was lightly attached to the ceiling and rested comfortably on and in the pool of carbon that filled 2/3rds. of the pockets bottom. This is the most anthraxolite we have found and more than twice the amount pictured was found, these being the largest.

Fire "Herkimer, N.Y. - It was a fire so big that all Herkimer County fire personnel were requested to help fight an out-of-control fire at the Herkimer Diamond Mines gift shop and offices on Route 28 in Herkimer around 6:30 Saturday morning. Fire officials are looking into what caused the fire. Herkimer Diamond Mines President and Owner Dr. Renee' Sialdo Shevat tells News Channel 2's Jason Powles, who was out at the scene, that she is devastated at what has happened, but she does plan to rebuild. Several fire departments, including Herkimer, Middleville, Dolgeville, Barneveld, Poland, , Newport Schuyler, and Trenton, all responded. The photo above was sent in to us by a viewer named Andrew Thomas. We will have much more on this story tonight on News Channel 2 Weekend at 6:00.". From WKTV, Utica, NY.
Not related to our operation, but, it is the second fire in a week involving quartz miners on the dolostone.

We've always had good relationships with our neighbors, two and four legged, and it's a pleasure to be around both types. In the process of exploring Turtle Clan Ridge we are lucky to be able to help, in this case a domicile for the family. The way they work, they didn't really need us, but any time we can stand next to a pile of freshly dug dirt, we can help.These images are from fall, 2017.

IMG_0909.jpg

Description:

Viewed:

8830 Time(s)

DSCF1037.jpg

Mineral:

From 65 to 5, they get it done.

Description:

Viewed:

8819 Time(s)

IMG_4948.jpg

Mineral:

Quartz

Locality:

Turtle Clan Ridge, Fonda, Mohawk, Montgomery County, New York, USA

Dimensions:

3.5 cm.

Description:

Quartz scepter, carbon included. Found in top soil. Then it snowed.

Viewed:

8802 Time(s)

IMG_4949.jpg

Mineral:

Quartz

Locality:

Turtle Clan Ridge, Fonda, Mohawk, Montgomery County, New York, USA

Dimensions:

3.5 cm.

Description:

Viewed:

8837 Time(s)

DSCF1395.jpg

Description:

All of these rather unremarkable crystals, show carbon included shaft sections within the clearer heads. These were found in a short time before the snow flew, and we look forward to more pristine crystals in spring.

A few images off the dolostone. We happened to be excavating a water line on the ridge a week ago, and in the process, after digging a meter or so down in rather nice soil, we reached the edge of the bedrock dolostone. We took a few minutes to expose a short face and these began to tumble out of a pocket layer in the country rock. It was substantial. Abandoning the excavator seat and assuming a more delicate collecting posture, what you see here was collected in that long day. It has yet to cleaned and sorted and they seem to have the common 10 to 20 percent good to fine presentation. The quartz is abundant is this area of the Ridge.

This is massive! Did you collect these from various pockets in a close area or from one big pocket? Did anyone else help you? Do you have more photos? What joy!!!

We didn't take many pictures, Pierre, There was a pocket layer and every couple of feet a pocket would present itself.The first indication was crystals spilling out of the bucket into the excavated soil and a closer look showed more in the hole. We didn't finish the project and the layers are still exposed. When I get back up there I'll try to remember to take pics. The hole was filling with water so we will have to pump out some ground water to explore a bit more. This is a view of the general area of the find.

The way you work with your Amish friends says a lot about your kind nature:-) I am looking forward to more pictures. It appears that this is an unexpected new 'gold mine' Quartz area._________________Pierre Joubert

Looking toward the location of the latest quartz find. First indications were to the right of the house, that's were the water line terminated. We assume that this area could produce much quartz, but, we must be surgical in our work because of the location relative to the house and barn.

Viewed:

5872 Time(s)

IMG_0111.jpg

Description:

This view is looking from the house toward the previous image location. Center, right you will see a pocket and at this level is the pocket layer. Pockets to the left, pockets to the right.

Viewed:

5868 Time(s)

IMG_0174.jpg

Description:

The rain has been abundant. Pockets can be seen exposed a meter or less below grade. We would like to believe this zone continues away from the house. We resist the urge to tear it up so near to the house and barn. And the snow is close so we must cover the line and reclaim the yard.

A bit of work done on the ridge, not all collecting, but is quartz found. I hope to catch up on posting of the endeavor, but it's hard to remember to pick up a camera. The weather hasn't helped either. Fingers for scale on this one.

You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forumYou cannot attach files in this forumYou can download files in this forum